A calculator uses researched medical and scientific data in order to estimate how old you will live to be. Most people score in their late 80s, according to Living to 100.

The calculator asks you 40 questions related to your health and family history, and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

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While the fountain of youth may be a myth, becoming a centenarian will be a mark many people will reach, thanks to advances in medicine.

The good news applies to people born after 2000.

Their predicted life expectancy is the ripe old age of 100, according to research from Denmark, published earlier this year.

"I tell my patients there are three components to maintaining a healthy life and living longer," said Dr. Eileen Simak of St. Luke's Senior Care Associates, Bethlehem.

They need to keep expanding intellectually, stay physically active and engage socially with other people, she said. "Quite simply, I tell them if they don't use it, they will lose it."

People are definitely living longer because of the changes they have made in their day-to-day living, said Dr. Jonathan Goldner, an internist and geriatric physician at Pocono Medical Center.

"It isn't unusual to see three or four patients a day that are in their 90s," Goldner said.

More people could live that long, but bad habits can shorten life spans.

"Factors like alcohol, cigarettes, lack of exercise and a diet high in carbohydrates can take away the number of quality years as well as the number of overall years a person has," Goldner said.

A report published in the British Medical Journal last year studied 20,000 British people and showed that a person can cut the risk of stroke in half by following four recommendations: be active for 30 minutes every day, eat five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoid cigarettes and excess alcohol.

Women are often at risk for poor nutrition as they age, Simak said. "After cooking for a family, they don't seem to bother to do all of it when they are all alone," she said.

Poor nutrition can contribute to loss of bone density, cognitive thinking and function of the immune system, among other things, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Programs are available for people who don't drive or don't cook, and programs such as Meals on Wheels deliver to homes, Simak said.

"As people age, one of the diseases that they can develop is type 2 diabetes, and managing the disease to keep it in check is important in order to prevent other medical conditions from developing," Goldner said.

Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore, especially in the early stages when you're feeling fine. But diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys.

"Eating healthy and losing weight, if you are overweight, can help control your blood sugar levels, and in turn that can help prevent these complications," Goldner said.

The American Diabetes Association says being overweight is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.

Regular exercise keeps your body systems working properly and can improve your chances of living longer, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

Many activities can help the older population, Simak said. Most gyms offer programs geared to older people. Check the local YMCA, which usually has several choices of exercise programs geared toward differing physical abilities, Simak said.

Also, picking types of exercise you enjoy will increase your chances of sticking with your routine.

"Regular exercise can improve your chances of living healthier for longer because it reduces your risk of developing heart disease and some types of cancer, which are two of the leading causes of death," Simak said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that regular exercise reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, improves your mental health and mood, and can help you control your weight.

The CDC also reports that people who are physically active for seven hours each week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than those who only exercise 30 minutes or less each week.

Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a "cognitive reserve" that will help you stay sharp as you age, Goldner said.

Tests have shown that when you learn a new language, your neurons really start firing.

Simak and Goldner both recommend learning a new language.

"Experts have always suggested doing crossword puzzles and playing word games to help the brain, but now there are so many ways to keep the brain active," Simak said.

Computers offer games that work on hand/eye coordination, and if people have a smartphone, all sorts of applications can be downloaded to keep their brain sharp — for free, she said.

Both doctors advocate reading as another way to keep the brain young.

"Anything is better than just sitting in the chair watching television," Goldner said.

Also, Simak tells her patients to stay active socially.

"Join a church group or club where there are activities for them to attend. Staying isolated is one of the worst things an older person can do," she said.

As one last piece of advice, older people need to see their doctor at least once a year, Goldner said.

"Being proactive about your health will have a lot to do with how you age. Finding a health issue before it becomes a problem makes a huge difference in the treatment," he said.

Goldner said most of his patients who are 90 or older lead productive lives.